Tue Jan 07 09:01:07 UTC 2025: ## Rising Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Cases in India Spark Concerns, But Experts Downplay Severity
**NEW DELHI** – A rise in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in India, following a surge in China, has raised public concern. While eight cases have been reported in India, experts are reassuring the public that the virus, though similar to COVID-19 in some ways, is not nearly as dangerous.
HMPV, an RNA virus from the Pneumoviridae family, causes respiratory illnesses with symptoms similar to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Like COVID-19, it spreads through close contact, contaminated surfaces, and airborne droplets. Preventive measures are also similar, emphasizing social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand hygiene.
However, unlike COVID-19, which often attacked the lungs causing severe oxygen deficiency, HMPV primarily affects the upper respiratory tract and rarely leads to pneumonia, according to Dr. Manoj Kumar Goyal, Director of Pulmonology at Fortis Hospital. He stated that most cases present with mild symptoms such as cough, cold, and mild fever, and that the death rate is negligible, primarily affecting those with pre-existing conditions or weakened immunity. A Delhi AIIMS study from last year confirmed this, showing that HMPV accounted for only 5% of respiratory infections, and most patients recovered within a few days.
Dr. Rohan Krishnan, former president of FAIMA Doctors Association, echoed these sentiments, advising caution and vigilance but urging against panic. He stressed the importance of testing if experiencing cough, cold, or fever. Experts are consistently emphasizing that while HMPV should not be ignored, it does not pose the same level of threat as COVID-19.
First Piper 